Florida State Wide
Winning artwork will be launched into space on an upcoming mission
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced the launch of the 2024 Florida Space Art Contest. Students in grades K–5 are encouraged to create an art piece inspired by the theme: Suit Up! Florida’s Space Suit of the Future.
“I am thrilled to announce the launch of the Third Annual Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest. Over the last two years, with more than 4,000 original art submissions, Florida’s students have shown their overwhelming support and excitement for this art contest,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “This year’s theme gives students creative control to engineer the space suit of tomorrow. I am excited to see the innovative and futuristic designs our young artists will bring to life.”
Space Florida, a sponsor of the Lieutenant Governor’s Space Art Contest, believes supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) education initiatives is an integral part of its mission. Continue reading
ORLANDO, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 621, which protects property rights, provides homeowners remedies against squatting, and increases penalties on squatters.
“We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system.”
“Florida is once again leading the nation, this time in securing our state against squatters,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Biden has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to flood across the border. After video evidence of their plan to take over homes emerged, we’re ensuring Floridians are protected from this egregious and brazen scheme. I’m grateful to Governor DeSantis for signing this important legislation into law, and to Representative Kevin Steele for carrying this bill through Session.” Continue reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Cammack applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s (RD) announcement to invest $317,400,000 to strengthen rural Florida’s power grid and ensure that 32,000 people have access to reliable electricity.
This investment comes from USDA RD’s Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, which makes insured loans and loan guarantees to help rural cooperatives and utilities build and improve rural electric infrastructure and increase electric grid reliability and security.
In central Florida, Sumter Electric Cooperative Inc. will use $317 million to build and improve more than 1,000 miles of power lines and connect 32,000 customers to reliable electricity. Nearly $5 million from this investment will be used to help the cooperative advance its smart grid technologies and install 38.4 miles of fiber line.
Sumter Electric Coop is headquartered in Sumterville, Florida, and provides electricity to an average of 226,501 consumers over 13,330 miles of distribution line in the counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R. 2706) passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee markup by voice vote this afternoon.
The bill is named for Charlotte Woodward, an adult with Down syndrome who received a lifesaving transplant over a decade ago. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system and upholds, clarifies, and builds upon rights established in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Additionally, the bill prohibits covered entities from determining than an individual is ineligible to receive a transplant, deny an organ transplant or related service, refuse to refer the individual to an organ transplant center, refuse to place an individual on a waiting list, or decline insurance coverage for a transplant or related service based solely on the fact that the individual has a disability.
The bill’s next step is to be marked up before the whole House Energy & Commerce Committee.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—As spring breakers continue flocking to the state, Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning students about the dangers of fentanyl. At a news conference in Daytona Beach, Attorney General Moody urged spring breakers to never use illicit drugs, since more fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills now contain a lethal dose than ever before.
Flanked by Volusia County first responders, Attorney General Moody also announced that the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the police departments of Daytona Beach, Deland, Ormond Beach, Ponce-Inlet and South Daytona, as well as the Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue team, are now participating in Attorney General Moody’s Helping Heroes program. The program provides free access to life-saving naloxone for first responders. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in support of Intervenor States seeking to keep the Biden administration from using shadowy gamesmanship to manipulate the president’s most vulnerable political liability in an election year: the border crisis. The Biden administration, on multiple occasions, used these tactics in an attempt to provide cover from his historical outright failure to protect the sovereignty of the nation. In this case, the Biden administration appears to have abandoned its defense of the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule, a rule that allows the Department of Homeland Security to turn away some asylum seekers, seeking instead a settlement agreement with pro-illegal immigration organizations, such as the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, an immigration-services nonprofit based in California.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This administration has repeatedly shown that it cannot be trusted, especially as it relates to defending the sovereignty of our nation and safety of our citizens. This president has turned every state in the country into a border state by allowing millions of unvetted and undocumented aliens into the interior. States have a right to be party to any settlement negotiations that will dictate border policy because we have an interest in protecting the safety of our citizens and the resources of our communities.” Continue reading
How much does government cost? That is a powerful question and the answer is: nobody really knows. The government has no money of its own. All they have is tax money extracted from the citizens and so many taxes are hidden that no one can say for sure just how much the government costs. Each year we spend money, time and energy to fill out income tax forms to find out how much it costs us individually to keep government running and fulfill our national and international obligations. The Income Tax is so convoluted that most individuals need to spend money on tax preparers or tax software to complete these forms. An entire industry has arisen to help people combat the I.R.S. if they get audited. In my opinion, any law that spawns such an industry to get around it, is a bad law to begin with and should be repealed. However, if you repeal the Income Tax you need to replace it with something better and that is the FAIRtax. Continue reading
Dear Friends,
It has been yet another great month in the Florida Legislature. I am honored to be able to represent the constituents of District 13 here in Tallahassee. With Session coming to an end, here are a couple of key pieces of legislation that we have had the pleasure of working on.
Firstly, The Florida Senate passed Senate Memorial 598, sponsored by Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), with bipartisan support. This memorial urges the federal government to enforce current immigration laws and secure our southern border.
The willful and systemic refusal of the Biden Administration to enforce immigration laws has allowed for a crisis to unfold at our southern border. This crisis impacts every community, not only across the State of Florida, but across the entire country as illegal immigrants overrun our southern border with those associated with drug cartels bringing weapons, fentanyl, and other contraband that devastates families and communities. Further, the influx of illegal immigration has placed a significant financial burden on Florida’s taxpayers. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Department of Management Services and FloridaCommerce hosted “Pitch Day at the Capital” in collaboration with SelectFlorida, the Florida Opportunity Fund, and the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator. Highlighted by multiple Memoranda of Understanding and historic trade missions led by Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida and Israel share a unique economic relationship, particularly in the technology sector.
Attendees included representatives from the Florida Governor’s Office, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of State, Florida Department of Revenue, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Division of Emergency Management, and Space Florida.
“In addition to our one-of-a-kind economic relationship, there is no greater friend to Israel and the Jewish people than the DeSantis administration,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “Bringing more Israeli businesses to Florida cements both our economic and cultural ties at a time when our partnership has never been more important.”
Following remarks from Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Deputy Consul General Mike Driquez, 30 technology companies delivered pitch-style presentations to state agency leaders and procurement officials. Companies in the infrastructure, supply chain, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries presented ideas and technologies that could further bolster the resources and capabilities of state entities. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis announced an investment of nearly $25 million from the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program to either create or expand 19 programs dedicated to strengthening workforce development across Florida. The initiative underscores Florida’s dedication to equipping students statewide with the essential skills required for success in high-demand occupations.
Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant funding provides Florida students with opportunities for hands-on educational experiences in a broad range of career and technical education programs such as automotive maintenance and light repair, digital video and technology, allied health assisting, criminal justice operations, entrepreneurship, emergency medical responder and many more.
“In Florida we have become the number one state in the nation for talent development by making strategic investments in our workforce,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We will continue to equip students in our state with the skills they need to succeed, without being burdened by debt.”
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida is strategically investing in workforce development, ensuring that our state remains at the forefront of innovation,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “This funding reflects our dedication to equipping students with the skills necessary to excel in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
